Representatives for the Detroit Casino Council and the state’s three casinos eventually reached a labor agreement late on Sunday, local media reported. The new contract is set to replace the old one that expired on October 16, 2015 and is to cover about 7,000 people employed at the three gambling venues.
Negotiations between the Detroit Casino Council, which represents members of four labor unions – the UAW Local 7777, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324, the Teamsters Local 372, and the UNITE HERE Local 24, and Detroit’s three casinos started on Tuesday, December 1. The two parties have discussed the terms of a potential new contract every day for the next six days. Even though an agreement was reached, it still needs to be voted on by casino workers in a special ratification vote.
Currently, there are three casinos operating within Detroit’s borders – MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown Casino, and MotorCity Casino. State officials monitored closely negotiations between the two parties, as the three gambling venues are considered sources for substantial gaming tax revenue and an important attraction for tourists and gambling customers from around the nation.
Wage increases, bonuses, and health care were among the key points discussed over the past six days. UNITE HERE Local 24 President Joe Daugherty said late on Sunday that an agreement regarding all major issues had been reached and casino workers will be provided with information about the deal’s terms early on Monday. In addition, several informational meetings are to be held this week, at which union members will be presented with more details on what comes next.
Negotiations between the Detroit Casino Council and the state’s three casinos started in August. Since then, the two involved parties have been trying to agree on the terms of a new labor contract, which is to replace the one that expired on October 16.
The first significant progress in the discussions was made late in November, when the Detroit Casino Council said that “tentative agreements” regarding health care and other sticking points had been reached.
Back then, it also became clear that the casinos have been working with several health insurance carriers in order to research different health care programs. Such programs are designed in a manner that would help casinos control costs without changing their existing health care plans.
Detroit’s three casinos have not commented yet on the latest announcement about the agreement. In addition, no date for the upcoming ratification vote has been announced yet.
